Foldable Escape Ramp for Passenger Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evacuation ramps for passenger transport vehicles, particularly in metro systems, face challenges such as bulkiness in the folded position, difficulty in installation on existing metros, and limited space for tall passengers, as well as inadequate support for passengers with reduced mobility.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible ramp with two hinged parts forming a walkway and a mat supported by deployment cables, allowing manual deployment without external power, featuring a Kevlar fabric mat that reduces bulk and allows easy adaptation to existing metros, with a gas spring for controlled deployment and a design that avoids obstruction of emergency door handles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the ramp is folded up during normal operation to maintain a compact form, then the bulk in the upper part of the evacuation door is reduced, but the space available for tall passengers and emergency door handles is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp is divided into two separate parts: the ramp structure itself and the mat. The mat is made in two parts that can be independently deployed. This segmentation allows the ramp to maintain a compact folded form while providing sufficient space when deployed, as the mat can be extended without increasing the ramp's folded bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The mat is deployed in a different dimensional space than the ramp structure. While the ramp folds vertically to minimize bulk, the mat extends horizontally to provide the necessary evacuation space. This dimensional separation allows both compact storage and adequate evacuation space to coexist.
2Device complexity
If the ramp is designed to be collapsible and manual-operated, then the device complexity and installation difficulty are reduced, but the deployment speed and evacuation efficiency may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation function is segmented into two independent components: the ramp structure for structural support and the mat for passenger support. Each can be deployed independently through simple manual operation, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining evacuation efficiency. The mat's independent deployment allows it to be quickly extended without requiring complex coordination with the ramp.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed for self-service manual operation without requiring external power sources or complex control systems. The mat's deployment cables and hinge mechanism allow passengers to manually deploy the mat quickly, and the ramp can be manually operated to its position, enabling the system to serve itself without external assistance.
3Volume of moving object
If the mat is made in two parts with deployment cables, then the bulk in folded position is reduced and adaptability to existing metros is improved, but the manufacturing precision and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mat is segmented into two separate parts that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each part to be produced separately with standard tolerances, then assembled together with the deployment cables and hinge mechanism, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to a single integrated mat.
Solution Approach 2:
The mat is constructed as a flexible structure that can be deployed and folded easily. This flexible design allows for simpler manufacturing and assembly, as the mat can accommodate variations in cable length and hinge positioning without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances, while still providing the necessary structural support for evacuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ramp provides efficient and safe passenger evacuation with reduced bulk in the folded position, easy installation, and improved accessibility for all passengers, including those with reduced mobility, while maintaining a compact form that does not obstruct emergency door handles.
Implementation Method 1
a gas spring for controlled deployment
Implementation Method 2
said ramp comprising a first and a second part forming a walkway (15), said parts being connected by a hinge
Implementation Method 3
a mat able to support the passage of users, characterized in that the mat is made in two parts, each part of the mat comprising a distal end, respectively hinged with one end of the walkway and a proximal end connected to at least one deployment cable of the mat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a ramp (2) for escape from passenger transport vehicles (1), said ramp (2) being foldable and, under normal working conditions, remaining folded and kept inside the vehicle (1), wherein the deployment of said ramp only requires manual actuation, and said ramp (2) comprises two portions (9, 10) that are connected by a hinge (18) and a mat (12) that is capable of supporting the passage of users, the mat (12) being made of two portions (12a) and (12b), each portion comprising a distal end (9c, 10a) hinged to one end of the gateway (12), respectively, and a proximal end (21a, 21b) connected to at least one cable (21).